Open manholes, no streetlights make this 2-km road in Kondhwa a killer stretch

Open manholes, no streetlights make this 2-km road in Kondhwa a killer stretch

From the main gate of the Clover Highland residential society starts a series of manholes, the lids of which are either broken or badly damaged. The only warning sign that is there on one of the manholes without a lid is a tree branch.

A narrow road stretching from the National Institute of Bank Management (NIBM) to Undri in Kondhwa has become accident-prone and also unsafe to commute at night because of the manholes with broken lids on the road and the absence of streetlights. Civic administration and local corporators have had nothing but promises to offer for the past few years.

From the main gate of the Clover Highland residential society starts a series of manholes, the lids of which are either broken or badly damaged. The only warning sign that is there on one of the manholes without a lid is a tree branch. Locals said these manholes were earlier on the roadside but as the road was expanded, these manholes became part of it.

Commuting on this road at night is even more dangerous. There are no streetlights on this stretch of the road as there is dense vegetation on both sides. A few cases of chain-snatching and robberies have been reported here in the past.

Writer Sudha Menon, who is a resident of the area, said, “This stretch has become an accident zone, and every alternate day there is a mishap. People can’t judge the manholes and at night it is even worse due to low visibility.

The issue has been raised several times with the authorities through corporators and Mohalla committees but no action has been taken. Are the authorities waiting for serious accidents to happen?”

Senior inspector Rajendra Mokashi of the Kondhwa police station said, “It is really unsafe to commute on this road at night as there are no lights and there is vegetation on either sides. We have taken up the issue with the local authorities.” Security guards of residential societies along the road said at least two accidents are reported every week.

Locals also said that when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited NIBM, street lights were installed but now they were non-functional. When contacted, local corporator Nanda Lonkar said, “I am aware of the issue and I can assure you that I will take it up with the officers and ask them to do the needful.”

A police officer added, “Such promises are made before every civic election but action is never taken.”